The unauthorized biography of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, by writer Huguette Young, was presented at the Café Littéraire during the 23rd edition of the French Book Fair in Toronto, last Saturday.

Justin Trudeau is that type of guy that you either love for his Hollywood-like allure or troll for looking too young, if not “immature”, and carrying a rather weak CV as a politician.

On one side, you have the groupies of the Liberal Party’s charming leader. On the other, you have his critics. Those are mainly conservatives, of course. However, it is in between these two sets of fans and anti-fans that Huguette Young’s book, “Justin Trudeau, The Heir” stands tall.

By choosing to write this biography well before the start of Canada’s 2015 federal elections campaign, the author took the risk of believing in her instinct – a sense that probably escaped the Conservative Party’s members, looking at how they got caught in their own trap by belittling Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s ambitious heir who will turn 44 on Christmas Day.

Actually, as indicated by Young during the presentation of her biography at the Toronto Book Fair, Trudeau’s strength renews itself through his determination to prove his doubters wrong. Proving the opposite is what incited the 23rd Canadian Prime Minister to flee politics during his youth. He was facing too much pressure among the entourage of his father, Pierre Trudeau, who died at 80 in 2000.

Born in Ottawa, Justin is perfectly fluent in both French and English. He took refuge inside classroom walls as a teacher. He also loves boxing. However, his sudden reappearance in the political world and his rapid rise to the top are not a coincidence or a matter of luck, according to the non-authorized biography. The father-of-three had to knock on many doors and prove that he is “ready” to lead.

It is this intriguing journey which captivated Huguette Young. She took two years to research it, observe it and describe it between the pages of her book; it is the fruit of hundreds of interviews. Remarkably, there is not a single word from Justin Trudeau, who “made a cold stare” in reply to the writer’s quest to interview him.

“There were all sorts of rumors [on Justin Trudeau linking him to love affairs] but this was not the kind of book I wanted to do. I wanted to discover the man behind the image,” the author explained at the event.

“He is hard to read through as a person. [In my book] I share his background, his education, his training with readers. This is the only book I know of that does this. Then I trace all the moments of his life. […] Strangely, we think everything fell into his hands but that is not the case.”

As flat as Huguette Young’s book might seem (since Canadians could now recite Justin’s biography by heart thanks to the Canadian media!) it certainly isn’t.

In fact, the real scoop inside this unauthorized biography written in French lies within its objectivity which triumphs over Trudeaumania and anti-Trudeauism. This is a story about the struggle of Canada’s Prime Minister against the prejudice he faces on a daily basis. The book is an answer to the question: “Who is Justin Trudeau really, and how did he manage to reach the top?”

For conservatives, reading “Justin Trudeau, The Heir” should provide them with valuable notes which would help them understand their opponent in view of defeating him in the next federal elections. For both neutrals and Justin Trudeau fanatics, this book confirms what the country’s 18th Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, had warned the Conservative Party about: Justin is not a man to underestimate because, under his shell, he possesses much more than just his physical charm.

“He can seduce, flatter, and persuade you,” Huguette Young cited.

“Justin Trudeau, The Heir” was completed before the Liberal Party’s victory in the 2015 Canadian federal elections. It will consequently be updated by its author and translated in English before the start of next summer.

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Angela Asante is a contributor at www.WorkingMomIn20s.com and Bold.Global with a particular focus on motivational messages and job tips articles. Her passion for soccer pushed her to build a career in sports journalism years ago. She works at LiveSoccerTV.com as the Digital Content & Social Media Manager and is affiliated to CBC/Radio-Canada as well.
Angela also contributes to the BBC World Service's Afrique branch as a freelance correspondent when she is in Ghana, her home country. Having spent her childhood in France, she speaks native French and has a lot of love for French culture.
Aside work, Angela spends most of her time studying journalism and photography, reading motivational messages and psychology articles, learning about Ancient African history and cosmology, connecting with her family and friends, listening to music and watching classic French movies. Angela also loves humor, good food and traveling.